Pectis cylindrica

Annuals, 1–20 cm (across or high); herbage not scented. Stems prostrate to ascending (often mat-forming, densely leafy distally), puberulent (in decurrent lines or throughout) or glabrate. Leaves (bluish green) linear to linear-oblanceolate or narrowly oblong, 10–30 × 1.5–4 mm, margins with 2–5 pairs of setae 1–2 mm, faces glabrous (abaxial densely dotted with scattered, circular oil-glands 0.05–0.2 mm). Heads borne singly or in congested, (leafy) cymiform arrays. Peduncles 1–5 mm. Involucres cylindric. Phyllaries coherent (falling together), oblong to oblong-obovate, 6–10 × 2–3 mm (dotted with scattered, elliptic oil-glands 0.05–0.15 mm). Ray florets 3(–4); corollas 3–4 mm (scarcely surpassing phyllaries). Disc florets (3–)7–14; corollas 2.2–2.6 mm (2-lipped). Cypselae 4–5.5 mm, puberulent (distally glandular-puberulent); pappi of 2 (ray) and 5 (disc) lanceolate scales 1.5–3.5 mm. 2n = 48.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Nov.
Habitat: Deserts, oak-juniper woodlands, grasslands, wash channels, mud flats, lawns, roadsides
Elevation: 700–1500 m

Ariz., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico (Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Sonora).

Discussion

Pectis cylindrica (2n = 48) is similar to P. prostrata (2n = 24); the two occasionally grow together (D. J. Keil 1975b). Some herbaria contain mixed collections of the two. No evidence is available of hybrids between the two.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa